Family adopts slain son's military dog - Page 1

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071222/ap_on_re_us/slain_marine_s_dog A military working dog wounded in Iraq during a rocket attack that killed its Marine handler was adopted Friday by the slain Marine's family. Cpl. Dustin Lee's family planned to take home the bomb-sniffing dog — named Lex — on Saturday after the 8-year-old German shepherd was granted early retirement. It was the first time a working dog was granted retirement to live with the handler's family, officials said. "Nobody can do anything to replace the void in this family," said Col. Christian Haliday, commander of the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, where Lee and Lex were assigned. "We hope Lex can bring a small piece of his spirit and help maintain his memory," he said. On hand for a ceremony at the base were the Marine's parents, Jerome and Rachel Lee, his sister, Madison, 16, and brother, Camryn, 12, of Quitman, Miss. "It's not going to bring back my brother, but it's something close to it," said Madison Lee as she played with Lex after the ceremony. Military officials initially told the family that Lex had another two years of service before he could be adopted. But the family lobbied for months — even enlisting the aid of a North Carolina congressman — and the adoption came exactly nine months after the 20-year-old Marine was killed and his dog wounded on March 21 in Iraq's Anbar Province. 2nd Lt. Caleb Eames, spokesman for the Albany base, said Lee and Lex were sitting outside at a forward operating base in Karmah when they were hit by shrapnel from a 73mm rocket explosion. "A part of Dustin is in Lex," said the fallen Marine's father. "To have Lex at home is a part of having Dustin at home." Rachel Lee said she believes her son's spirit will live on through the dog because of their close bond and because they were together during the final moments of her son's life. "It was blood on blood," she said. "We can't get Dustin back, but we have Lex."

This is an amazing and heart wrenching story. I hope Dustins family is given some peace and comfort with Lex by their side. Go to www.remembercpldustinlee.blogspot.com for more info. My father was in vietnam in the 4th infantry division and he has told me amazing stories he had heard about scout handlers , sentry and war dogs. Also a great book is "A soldiers best friend" Author MSsgt. John c. Burnham.

Also see other thread about =this already posted: Thanks for the thread also... K-9 came back from Iraq , but His master didnt....

What a gorgeous dog K9 Lex is ;) I'm so happy to hear that K9 Lex can come home to live his reminding of his years with the handlers family... I wish it could happen with every handler that dies in Iraq.

It took a long few weeks of convincing the Government to let them have Lex....They had to pull some strings and lots of talk to get them to release him...They wanted to keep Lex for two more years.... This is a wonderful Christmas wish come true....

I agree this is what the true spirit of christmas is about..family , friends and our animal companions!!!!

This might sound silly but I was impressed that the dog was still in working shape at 8 years of age. Do they typically keep them working until they are 10?